Collapsible portable apparatus for therapeutic elongations



I United States Patent [111 ,5

[72] Inventor Edmond Pierre Robert Viel [56] References Cited c/o Citec lngustrielle Ducas, Noumea, UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. 7 0 9 5 u s a. 2 [21] 719365 37 ,94 6/] 4 P0252311 PATENTS 1 8/84 [22] Filed April 8, 1968 [45 Patented Dec. 15,1970 558,472 6/1958 Canada 128/75 Priority May 23, 1967 Primary ExaminerL. W. Trapp France Allorney-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [31 1 No. 107,360

ABSTRACT: Collapsible portable apparatus for therapeutic elongations comprising an adjustable length elongated member contractible against resilient means and having a member adjustable therealong to which two legs are articulated; and includin means for receivin a atients arms, for [54] COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR supporting his head and for encircling h is a kles or his pelvis, THEBAPEUTIC FLQNGATIONS in arrangement in which the apparatus in operative position, 5 clalmssnrawmg Flgs' with the legs held splayed by an interconnecting member, [52] U.S.Cl 128/75 forms a tripod which may be deformed against the resilient [51] lnt.C| A6lh l/02 means to stretch the patient by weight applied through the [50] Field of Search 128/68, means for receiving his arms which are carried near the point 68.1, 71,75, 84 ofpivoting of the legs to the elongated member.

PATENTEU DEC 1 519m SHEET 1 [IF 4 EDMOND PIERRE ROBERT \HEL' PATENTED DEC] 5 I978 SHEET 2 [IF 4 EDMOND mm ROBERT my Mimi/1J4 .ZZL

PATENTED 11111 5 1111 EDMOND PHERRE ROBERT YIEL,

IHVlNTOIZ COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR THERAPEUTIC ELONGATIONS This invention relates to a collapsible portable apparatus for therapeutic elongations.

Various devices are known for applying traction to the spinal column or stretching other parts of the human body comprising tables or devices having movable components effective on particular parts of the body on which they exert a pull when moved apart by jpulley drives, gearwheels or similar devices.

All these devices are however complicated, expensive, bulky and do not enable a patient to perform intermittent stretchings or elongations on himself.

A compact device has also been proposed, the device comprising a frame shaped like a tenonsaw handle and comprising traction means for the legs and head of the operator, who can control the amount of traction by pulling a string within reach of his hand and so acting on a pulley system. In this device, however, the traction is continuous and the operator cannot perform intermittent stretchings.

The object of the present invention -is' to provide apparatus, which obviates the disadvantages of known apparatus and devicesgand is light, foldable and compact and can be used by the patient himself for intermittent elongations which he can discontinue whenever he wishes without having to manipulate any control devices. I

The invention is by way of example, hereinafter more fully described'with reference to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of apparatus for intermittent elongations, and in which: i

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 1 without the straps; FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus in FIG. 2; 7

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section on a larger scale of a tubular casing whose position can be adjusted on the tubular longitudinal member, the length of which is also adjustable;

FIG. 5 is an end view corresponding to-FIG. 4, the gauge having been removed; Y

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal view on a larger scale of the part of the tubular longitudinal member between points A and B in FIG. 1;

' FIG. 7 shows in detail how thecrosspiece is attached to one leg of the jointed stand; and i FIG. 8 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 7.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the portable apparatus for intermittent elongationscomprises an elongated longitudinal member comprising an outer tube'l and a telescoping inner tube 8, which as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, is articulated to a stand comprising two legs 2 and 3 and a lower crosspiece 4 interconnecting the legs. At its free, lower end, the tube 1 contains a telescoping tube 5 which can be adjusted in position depending upon the patients height and held in adjusted position by means of a wing screw 6 threaded through a reinforcing casing 7 on the tube 1. The tube 8 is held.

in position in the tube 1 against a helical spring 9 (FIG. 6) by being pulled by an extensible rubberspring 10 having two strands passing round a hook 11,.fixed to tube 1 by a transverse screw 12 and a nut 12', said screw also acting as an abutment for the spring 9. A tubular component forming a gauge comprises two parts 13 and 13' connected together by a reinforced flexible part 14 is disposed inside the tubes 1 and 8 coaxially with the spring 9. Thetubular part 13 has a diametrical aperture traversed by the screw 12 to secure it in position. When the spring 9 is relaxed, the free end of member 13 is coterminous with the free end of the tube 8, which has a perforated rubber tip 15 through whichthe part 13' extends when spring 9 is compressed. The free'end of tube 13 is calibrated and acts as a gauge to measure the amount of compression on thespring9. I

A tubular metal casing 16 is threaded onto tube 8 near its free end. This casing 16, which should advantageously have longitudinal slits (See FIG. 4), is movable along the tube 8 and can be fixed by a wing screw 17 in it's adjusted position. A

rubber sleeve 18, which has longitudinal slits along its upper part (See FIGS. 4 and ,5), is threaded onto the casing 16 and fixed to that member by a collar 19 which can be tightened by a screw 20.

The member 18, which is made of reinforced rubber, bounds apertures at its wide end in which threaded rods 23 and 24 are fixed by nuts 21 and 22. The rods 23 and 24 cooperate with nuts (not shown in tlie drawings) to hold the legs 2 and 3, diametrical apertures near the ends of which are threaded on the rods 23 and 24.

head strap 33 intended to be fixedunder the patients chin and on the back of his head.'Handles 34 and 35, threaded on the tube 8 and enclosing the rubber spring 10, can be used by the patient for adjusting the apparatus. The strands of the spring 10 form a triangular loop extending from the upper handle 35 and having two apices fixed to the legs 2 and 3. The legs 2 and 3 are also provided with operating handles 36 and 37 and with padding elements 38 and 39.

On the tube 8, near the casing 16 and its rubber sleeve 18, is a double strap 40 in which a patient inserts his arms so that when he is in an extended position, the straps will be under his armpits. 1

The double strap '40 has a cloth sleeve reinforced by plastics tubes and is bent to form two side loops to receive the patient's arms and a central saddle of twice the thicknessfor resting, near the sliding casing 16 on the tube 8, to which the strap is attached by a cord.

The crosspiece 4 interconnecting the legs 2 and 3 is jointed to the leg 2 about a shaft 41 and is d'e tachably fastened to the leg 3 about a shaft 42. f 5

FIGS. 7 and 8 show in detail how the crosspiece 4 is bolted on the shaft 42 of the leg 3 so that it can be detached. The tubular crosspiece 4 is formed with a diametrical groove 43 for engaging with the shaft 42 and extending approximately as far as the-middle of the tube 4. To prevent tube 4 from being accidentally released from the shaft'42, a bolt 44 of substantially semicircular cross section slides in the tubular crosspiece 4 and is actuated by a projecting stud 45 extending through a slot 46 extending longitudinally in the wall of member 4. When in the operating position, the bolt 44 is pushed towards the left (see FIG. 7).

The apparatus operates and is used'as follows:

The apparatus is put in an operative position as shown in FIG. I in which its main members form a tripod. The patient sits down and straps his feet in the ankle loops 27 and 28 by pulling the straps47 to the loops. He then stretches out on his back, opening the apparatus to a suitable angle for putting on the head strap 33. He then inserts his forearms into the double straps 40 and, keeping his arms straight, lowers them along his body. During this operation, the apparatus opens and occupies a position in which the free end of the tube 5 is at an increased distance from the crosspiece 4. As a result, the patient is stretched between rocking the levers 26 and 30.

The amount of pressure on the spring 9 is shown by the calibrated length of the gauge (the 'end of tubular element 13) projecting from the tube 8. If the traction is insufficient, the patient lifts his arms, holds the casing 16 and its sleeve 18 with one hand, releases the sleeve 16 unscrewing the wing screw 17, and slides casing 16 a little way downwards before locking it in its new position by retightening the wing screw 17. He then tries the apparatus again.

If the patient wishes to perform intermittent elongations, he merely has to lift his arms. As soon as the strap 40 is relieved of weight, the apparatus is restored by the rubber spring 10 and ceases to exert any traction. The patient then lowers his arms and the initial traction is repeated and again relieved at the required rate.

By using his watch, the patient can easily make precise adjustments in the amount of traction and its duration and frequency. Thepatient can release himself by performing the operations described in the reverse order.

When the apparatus is dismantled and put in'its housing, the procedure is as follows: I

First, the operator detaches the crosspiece 4 from the leg 3 by drawing back the bolt 44 and pivoting the crosspiece 4 and fastening it parallel to leg 2. The operator then takes tube 8 and ties the freepieces together with a cord. He then turns the wing nut 17 so that the casing 16 slides'downwards to its lowest position, where it is locked again. During this operation, the rubber spring 10 acts on legs-2 and 3 and pulls the three parts while parallel towards tube 8. Tube 8 is then taken apart from tube 1, which is moved through an'angle of 180, so that the five main parts of the apparatus are parallel and adjacent to one another.

During this operation, rubber spring '10 is under tension between its points of attachment, but is then slackened after the connecting flexible member 14 has bent through 180.

When folded, the apparatus can be put in its housing without detaching theother parts, such asthe rocking levers,

. the head and ankle straps, and the belts.

can have slide blocks, rollers, balls or-wheels moving in slides I which can be integral with an assembly plate especially designed for the apparatus.

Finally, if the patient wishes to retain freedom of movement for his arms, straps 40 can be replaced by an adjustable belt which passes round the patients body and the tube 8.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for imparting therapeutic tractions to a human body, comprising a first tubular member having first and length adjusting member in adjusted position,'a compression second ends, a length adjusting member telescoping into said first end of said tubular member and means for locking said spring in said tubular member, a second tubular member telescoping into said second end of said first tubular member to, abut said spring, a slidable memberon said second tubular member andmeans for locking said slidable member in adjusted position, pivot means on said slidable member, first and second legs, means for connecting one end of each of said first and second legs to said pivot means, holding means for bold ing said-first and second legs in splayed operative position, a rubber spring effective to urge said second tubular member into said first tubular member and to urge said first and second legs to rock about saidpivot means, ankle encircling straps, means connecting said ankle encircling straps to said length adjusting member, headsupporting means, means connecting said head supporting means to said holding means, strap means forming two arm receiving loops, and means for connecting said strap means to said slidable member.

2. Apparatus for imparting therapeutic tractions, to a human body as claimed in claim 1, including gauge means for indicating the extent of compression of said'spring in said first tubular member and comprising two coaxial tubular members connected together by a reinforced rubber member, means for fixing one of said coaxial tubular members in said first tubular member, and a scale on said other coaxial tubular member which projects beyond the free end of said second tubular member, said fixing means also serving as an abutment for said s rm 3. gpparatus for imparting therapeutic tractions to a human body as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for locking said length adjusting member comprises a sleeve on said first tubular member and a wing screw meshing with a threaded bore in said sleeve and extending through said first tubular member to bear on aid length adjusting member.

4. Apparatus for imparting therapeutic tractions to a human body as claimed in claim 1, in which said slidable member comprises a sleeve with longitudinal slits and said locking means comprises a wing screw and means for holding said screw to bear on said-sleeve where it is slit.

5. Apparatus for imparting therapeutic tractions to a human body as claimed in claim 1, including at least one handheld sleeve on said second tubular member and embracing said rubber spring. 

